James Mangold’s Logan (2017) is not just another superhero movie—it’s a brutal, raw, and emotionally charged farewell to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X. Set in a near-future where mutants are nearly extinct, the film strips away glossy comic-book spectacle and instead gives us a road trip story drenched in Western influences, with themes of legacy, mortality, and family.
Detailed Summary
A Broken Wolverine
In the year 2029, Logan (Hugh Jackman) is no longer the unstoppable mutant we know. His healing powers are fading, his body scarred, and he numbs himself with alcohol while working as a limo driver. The once-great hero is weary, broken, and bitter.
Caring for Charles
Logan secretly cares for an ailing Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who suffers from a neurodegenerative disease that causes dangerous psychic seizures. Alongside them is Caliban (Stephen Merchant), a mutant tracker who helps care for Charles while hiding in Mexico.
Enter Laura
Logan’s life changes when Gabriela, a nurse, pleads for his help to protect a young girl named Laura (Dafne Keen). Laura is soon revealed to be Logan’s biological daughter, created from his DNA by a corporation called Transigen. She has claws, healing powers, and feral rage just like her father.
The Chase
When Transigen sends soldiers known as the Reavers, led by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), Logan, Charles, and Laura go on the run. Along their journey, Charles finds joy in guiding Laura, while Logan struggles to accept his role as a father figure.
Tragedy Strikes
The group briefly finds peace with a farming family, but this serenity is violently shattered when a clone of Wolverine, called X-24, kills Charles and slaughters the family. Logan is devastated by Charles’s death, losing his last tether to purpose.
Toward Eden
Logan and Laura continue toward “Eden,” a rumored mutant sanctuary. Although Logan doubts its existence, they discover other mutant children hiding there. Transigen hunts them relentlessly, leading to a brutal final confrontation.
⇢ VIRAL RIGHT NOW
Movie Ending
The climax unfolds in the forest near Eden. Logan, severely weakened and near death, injects himself with a serum that temporarily restores his strength. In a feral rage reminiscent of his younger self, he slaughters countless Reavers to protect Laura and the children. However, the serum wears off quickly, leaving him vulnerable when facing X-24.
Laura ultimately kills X-24 with an adamantium bullet Logan had been saving. Mortally wounded, Logan shares a final, heartbreaking moment with Laura. She calls him “Daddy” for the first and last time. Logan tells her not to be what they made her and assures her that she does not have to fight anymore. His final words—“So this is what it feels like”—are a reference to finally experiencing peace, love, and release from pain.
The children bury Logan, marking his grave with a cross they turn sideways to form an “X,” symbolizing the end of the X-Men era and Wolverine’s legacy. It is a powerful, emotional conclusion to Hugh Jackman’s 17-year journey as Logan.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Logan does not have any mid-credit or post-credit scenes. James Mangold deliberately chose not to include one, saying he wanted the story to end definitively without teasing future installments. It is a complete farewell.
Type of Movie
Logan is a neo-Western superhero drama. It blends gritty realism with comic-book mythology, leaning heavily into the structure of a classic Western road movie rather than a traditional superhero blockbuster.
Cast
- Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
- Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier
- Dafne Keen as Laura / X-23
- Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce
- Stephen Merchant as Caliban
- Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Marco Beltrami, who also worked with Mangold on 3:10 to Yuma. The music is subtle, often melancholic, and leans into Western influences rather than bombastic superhero themes. A key moment uses Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around” in the trailer, though the film itself features his “Hurt” cover in marketing more prominently than within the actual runtime.
⇢ KEEP UP WITH THE TREND
Filming Locations
Filming took place in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi, chosen for their dusty landscapes and desolate beauty. These locations amplify the Western themes of isolation, travel, and frontier justice. The forested final battle was filmed in New Mexico, contrasting the dry roads of Logan’s journey with a setting of rebirth and renewal for the children.
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards (a first for a superhero film in that category).
- Won multiple critics’ awards for Best Actor (Hugh Jackman) and Best Supporting Actor (Patrick Stewart).
- Recognized by the Saturn Awards, Empire Awards, and others for its unique take on the superhero genre.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Hugh Jackman took a significant pay cut so the film could have an R-rating.
- Patrick Stewart decided to retire as Professor X after seeing the film’s rough cut, realizing it was the perfect sendoff.
- Dafne Keen’s audition included her improvising scenes in both English and Spanish, which impressed Mangold and Jackman so much they insisted she be cast immediately.
- The decision to exclude costumes and flashy superhero tropes was deliberate—Mangold wanted the film to stand on its own as a drama.
Inspirations and References
- Inspired by the comic Old Man Logan by Mark Millar, though the film deviates significantly.
- Heavily influenced by Western classics, especially Shane (1953), which is directly referenced in the movie.
- Themes of redemption and fatherhood echo Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
The film’s ending was always intended to be Logan’s death. Mangold has confirmed that there were no alternate endings planned. However, deleted scenes include more moments between Logan, Laura, and Charles on their road trip, but these were cut to maintain pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While the comic Old Man Logan inspired the film, the movie omits most of its dystopian Marvel references (like Hulk gangs, Hawkeye, or Red Skull) due to rights issues. Instead, Mangold created a more grounded story about aging, legacy, and family.
⇢ MOST SHARED RIGHT NOW
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Logan’s first limo fight, showing his brutal, slowed-down fighting style.
- Charles’s seizure in the hotel, where Logan claws through enemies while barely able to move.
- The dinner scene with the farm family, showcasing rare warmth.
- Laura’s feral introduction, slaughtering Reavers with unrestrained savagery.
- Logan’s final stand in the forest.
Iconic Quotes
- Charles: “Logan, you still have time.”
- Logan: “Don’t be what they made you.”
- Laura: “Daddy.”
- Logan: “So this is what it feels like.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The kids’ coordinates to Eden are actually lifted from a real X-Men comic, blurring fiction and reality.
- Laura’s love for Wolverine comics within the film is a meta nod to the X-Men comic legacy.
- Logan’s adamantium bullet foreshadows his fate and also recalls earlier X-Men films.
Trivia
- Hugh Jackman personally called Jerry Seinfeld for advice before deciding to retire from the role.
- The film grossed over $600 million worldwide despite being R-rated.
- Dafne Keen performed many of her own stunts at age 11.
Why Watch?
Because Logan is more than a superhero film—it’s a raw, emotional farewell to two legendary characters. It’s a story about family, sacrifice, and mortality, wrapped in the shell of a superhero Western. If you thought comic-book films couldn’t make you cry, this one will prove you wrong.
